Berlin film market numbers on the rise

EFM accreditations climb 671 to 6,256

BERLIN — The Berlinale’s European Film Market will be booming next month with the number of buyers, accreditations, foreign film industry reps, market badges and EFM screening passes all up on 2009 numbers.

The number of buyers is at 913, well above last year’s 878; accreditations are up 671 to 6,256; and foreign industry reps have increased by 263 to 2,982. The EFM has so far sold 2,249 market badges, nearly 200 more than last year, and 64 more screening passes.

Exhibitors from 48 countries will be represented, with a particularly strong showing from the U.S., France, the U.K. and Germany.

However, the number of companies at the mart’s main venue, the Martin Gropius Bau, and at the Marriott Hotel at Potsdamer Platz was at 394 as of Jan. 7, down from last year’s 408 in the same period.

While further companies could sign up for these venues, the number might also reflect a growing tendency among some to set up shop in neighboring hotels rather than official EFM locations.

The EFM will again offer panel events and discussion forums with its EFM Industry Debates, running Feb. 12-14, which will be organized with Commerzbank and in cooperation with Variety and other trade papers.

Also returning is Meet the Docs, a networking platform introduced last year for documentary film in co-operation with the European Documentary Network. As part of the initiative, daily meetings with distributors will take place in the new EFM Lounge at the Martin Gropius Bau.

Other EFM events include Books at Berlinale, organized with the Frankfurt Book Fair, which brings together publishers and literary agents and film industry reps, and showcases a selection of literary material to filmmakers.

In its seventh year, Straight From Sundance presents the latest U.S. independent productions that premiered at the Utah fest to international buyers.